Trimbach

With viticultural origins going back to 1626 this family owned estate produces some of the finest wines not only of Alsace, but indeed the entire world of wine. Around the villages of Ribeauvillé and Hunawihr, the Trimbach family owns 60 hectares of vineyards including 1.67ha of Rosacker Grand Cru (which produces the highly famed Clos Sainte Hune Riesling) as well as parcels of Geisberg and Osterberg (blended to make the equally renowned Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile). Geisberg and Osterberg are located on the hill rising up behind the ‘new’ family winery on the edge of Ribeauvillé. The family moved from their ‘old’ winery in Hunawihr in the 1890’s! Indeed, the label of Clos Sainte Hune depicts the view to the local church from the old winery in Hunawihr which is located in rue Saint Hune.

• Grand Cru sites make up almost 30% of the Trimbach family total production, whereas for Alsace the Grand Cru sites represent 4% of all production.

• Riesling is the main focus for Trimbach with 50% of production being Riesling (in Alsace Riesling makes up 22% of the total production).

• In 1972 Trimbach eradicated all chemical use from the vineyards and winery and has been practicing sustainable farming, now organic for all estate vineyards and purchased fruit.

• Frederic Emile Riesling is listed in 25 three star restaurants in France and was first produced in 1967. It is usually an equal blend of Geisberg and Osterberg Grand Crus.

• Clos Ste Hune was first produced in 1919 and produces no more than 8000 bottles from the 1.67 ha site in the village of Hunawihr.

According to Jean Trimbach, the house style is aiming for ‘harmonious wines that are concentrated, not heavy; fruity, not sweet; bracing rather than fat; polite rather than voluptuous.’ To that end, fermentations are cool and slow, maloloactic fermentation is not carried out and the wines are bottled early to retain freshness.

The dry Rieslings are usually made with less than 5g/l of residual sugar, whereas the dry Gewürztraminers might carry up to 10g/l. The wines are then aged in the cellar for at least one year; up to 5 years or more for the top wines. Even the richer Vendanges Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles wines are made with more restraint than is usual in Alsace more generally: VT Rieslings typically carry 15-40g/l; VT Gewürztraminer around 50-75g/l; and SGN typically from 100g/l.

WINE NOTES AND REVIEWS - CURRENT VINTAGES

CLASSIC

2022 Trimbach Pinot Blanc
This Pinot Blanc is a blend of 70% Auxerrois and 30% Pinot Blanc. It shows an excellent fruitiness underlined with a nice refreshing acidity. Ideal to drink as a reception wine or with sea-food, fishes and light meals, ideal pour by the glass. 13.17% Alc/Vol; 5.9 g/L RS; 5.05 g/L TA pH 3.34.
A beautiful dry white with stacks of ripe pear and yellow apple aromas plus hints of honeycomb and honeysuckle. Spot-on balance of restrained ripeness and spring-like freshness on the juicy palate. Just a touch of tannin deftly supports the clean, long finish. A cuvee of 70% auxerrois and 30% pinot blanc. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap. 91 points, Stuart Piggot, Jamessuckling.com, May 2024.

2021 Trimbach Riesling
This classic Riesling is bone dry, very fruity and savory. It develops a wonderful ripe acidity which enhances its intensity and complexity. Beautiful purity of fruit. Best with sea food, fishes including raw fishes, pork dishes, but also vegetarian cuisine or salads. 20% of the wine comes from Grand Cru vineyards. Mostly limestone soils with grapes carefully selected by Pierre & Julien Trimbach. 12.64% Alc/Vol; 2.9 g/L RS; 7.76 g/L TA, pH 3.13.
An archetypal Alsace dry riesling with a wide spectrum of aromas ranging from lemon and crisp pear to fresh pineapple and candied orange. Very crisp and focused palate with a wonderful freshness that’s hard to resist. Long, ample finish that’s very clean. From organically grown grapes. Drink from release. Screw cap. 92 points, Stuart Pigott, jamessuckling.com, March 2023

RESERVE

2021 Trimbach Riesling Réserve
The Reserve Riesling is made up of older vine material, averaging around 45-50 years, taken from the estate’s vineyards in Ribeauvillé and Bergheim, including the Grand Cru of Altenberg de Bergheim and the lieu-dits of Hagueneau and Pflaenzer. The fruit is crushed and pressed then fermented in stainless steel tanks. In line with the house’s fresh and vivacious style, the wine does not undergo malolactic conversion or long lees maturation. 12.94% Alc/Vol; 5.3 g/L RS; 9.09 g/L TA, pH 3.04.
This elegant, medium-weight dry riesling is brimming with white tree fruit aromas plus notes of spring blossoms and garden herbs. You can’t fault it for charm, but neither can you for balance and structure. Long and bright citrusy finish. From old vineyards in Ribeauville and Bergheim. From organically grown grapes. Drink from release. 93 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, March 2023.

2020 Trimbach Riesling Vieilles Vignes
Old vines, 50-60 years from Hunawihr, lieu-dit Muehlforst and Grand Cru Rosacker. Juicy and very savoury with a wonderful broad texture. Ripe stone fruits, long finish and dry vinified.
”Ripe and refined peach and orange-blossom aromas are wrapped around intense, chalky minerality and quite some power on the generous but focused palate. Expertly crafted, everything fitting so neatly together. Long, well-structured finish that is seriously dry. 100% estate fruit from 70-year-old vines in Ribeauvillé and Hunawihr. Drink or hold.”
95 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, August 2022.

2018 Trimbach Pinot Gris Réserve
This Pinot-Gris shows some ripe fruits such as ripe pears and yellow peaches with a touch of smokiness, it is very pure and focused which makes it an ideal wine for the gastronomy. Impeccable, solar 2018 vintage with ripe and focused acidity - a dry Pinot Gris. A top seller in Alsace, ideal for all cuisines of the world.

2023 Sylvaner Réserve Weinbaum - NEW
Just 1 ha of 50+yo vines from the Weinbaum vineyard in Ribeauville on the northern side of the village near the Osterberg and Hagueneau vineyards on limestone marl soil. This single vineyard Sylvaner is the only Sylvaner that Trimbach release as they sell the remainder in bulk. Lifted citric and mineral aromas with surprising depth and character. Very fresh with excellent length and acidity and shows remarkable length and persistence. Very long and dry. 13.5% alc.
The generous nose of this remarkable Alsace sylvaner reminds me of nutty old-fashioned apple varieties and some herbal delicacy. For a grape variety often assumed to be simple and rustic, it has both impressive concentration and some real elegance on the medium-bodied palate. Long, cool, herbal finish. From almost one hectare of 40- to 50-year-old vines. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. 93 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, May 2024.

2022 Trimbach Pinot Noir Réserve
100% de-stemmed and fermented in stainless steel then aged in large old casks for 6 to 7 months and bottled April 2023. Pinot Noir was the first variety to harvest in 2022. This vintage shows excellent depth character and freshness with ripe tannins and lovely balance.
If you haven’t caught up with the Alsace pinot noir revolution, then this excellent example will bring you up to speed. Enticing sour cherry, wild blackberry and licorice aromas are wrapped around the beautifully crafted velvety tannins. Long finish with delicate earthy notes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. 93 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, May 2024.

RESERVE PERSONNELLE (gold label)

2017 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Émile
This wine is named for Frédéric Emile Trimbach who became famous for providing a new guarantee of quality and authenticity for Trimbach in 1898. The south and south-east facing Ribeauvillé Grand Crus of Geisberg and Osterberg have been producing this wine for several generations. The average age of the vines, over 55 years, results in limited yields.
13.5 % Alc/Vol; 2.4 g/L RS; 3.08 pH; 7.64 g/L TA
’Bright straw. Clean, vibrantly mineral and racy aromas and flavors of green apple. pear and lime. Ripe yet brightly acidic, this exhibits a penetrating quality on the long, juicy, ginger and mineral accented finish. Very compact, dense and still youthful Riesling. Outstanding. Drink 2026-2039.’ 95+ points, Ian d’Agata, Vinous, September 2018.
‘Poured from a magnum, this age-worthy wine is snappy and precise in texture, offering abundant minerals, orange zest and white peach in the aroma and crisp, stony flavors on the palate. Focused, invigorating and still young, it will drink best from 2028.’ 95 points, James Suckling, January 2024.

2016 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Émile - last cases
This wine is named for Frédéric Emile Trimbach who became famous for providing a new guarantee of quality and authenticity for Trimbach in 1898. The south and south-east facing Ribeauvillé Grand Crus of Geisberg and Osterberg have been producing this wine for several generations. The average age of the vines, over 55 years, results in limited yields.
13.23 % Alc/Vol; 2.0 g/l RS; 3.13 pH; 8.29 g/l TA
’Luminous straw-yellow. Complex, mint-accented aromas of nectarine, tangerine and powdered stone, plus a hint or licorice. Then bright, juicy and dense, showing outstanding acid-sugar balance and a penetrating juiciness to the stone fruit and herbal flavours. Finishes multilayered and very long, displaying noteworthy clarity and limy cut on the saline finish. Wine lovers everywhere know how great Frederic Emile Rieslings can be, but this looks to be a real knockout in the making; I absolutely love this wines mineral drive and precision. It pulls off the neat trick of being both very age-worthy and also lovely to drink right now. I was happy to know that my palate was still working after an extremely long day of tasting when I told Pierre that in this vintage of Frederic Emile I found more of the Geisberg than the Osterberg (in most recent vintages, the wines is a blend of 60/40 Osterberg-Geisberg, at times even 70/30, but this year it’s more like 55/45). Drink 2026-2039.’ 97+ points, Ian d’Agata, Vinous, September 2017.
‘The lemon-sherbet note here is really beautiful. Then comes a wealth of herbs, ranging from thyme to parsley, with a touch of sea salt, before turning to more floral nuances, such as cherries and almond blossom. The powerful acidity seems to surround the whole mouth and makes this almost like licking a lemon; the unmistakable dryness is all the more enjoyable because of it. Long and very elegant on the finish. Drink now.’ 96 points, James Suckling, August 2019.

2014 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Émile - last cases
This wine is named for Frédéric Emile Trimbach who became famous for providing a new guarantee of quality and authenticity for Trimbach in 1898. The south and south-east facing Ribeauvillé Grand Crus of Geisberg and Osterberg have been producing this wine for several generations. The average age of the vines, over 55 years, results in limited yields.
13.59 % Alc/Vol; 2.5 g/l RS; 2.96 pH; 8.95 g/l TA.
’So much mineral and sliced apple character with hints of orange and apple peel. Turns to steely character. Full-bodied, racy and bright. So lively. Great finish. Drink or hold on release. On the market in 2019.’ 96 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, September 2015
’Wafts of slate, petrol and brine on the nose are a lovely entry point for this bone dry, racy white. The minerally profile underscores notes of crunchy nectarine and kiwi fruit, cherry blossom, pink grapefruit pith and fresh thyme. It's firm and linear, a graceful version exhibiting seamless knit and definition. Drink now through 2039.’ 95 points, Wine Spectator, February 2023
’Vivid straw-green. Delicate nuances of jasmine and lemon verbena complicate aromas of green apple, lime and minerals. Pure and penetrating on the palate, boasting superb definition to the flavors of gin, mint, minerals, violet and lemon zest. The finish is remarkably crystalline and long. This Frédéric Emile is currently dominated by its Osterberg component (the cuvée is a blend of Osterberg and Geisberg grand cru grapes), which brings chiseled acidity, as opposed to the Geisberg’s ripe fruit personality and licorice quality. Despite the difficult year, this is likely to become a memorable Frédéric Emile. So much so, in fact, that it’s currently impossible to choose between it and the more famous Clos Sainte Hune.’ 94+ points, Ian d’Agata, Vinous, December 2015.
‘The 2014 Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile is highly complex on the clear, intense and smoky, lemony nose. Clear, fresh, straight and very mineral on the nose, this is a pure but complex, intense, stony Riesling that is pretty austere at the moment. Provided with racy acidity, but concentrated and mineral on the palate, this is exceptional dry Riesling with great tension. To be served in 10, 20 and even in 30 years.’ 94+ points, Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate, July 2017.

2015 Trimbach Gewürztraminer Cuvée des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre (375ml + 750ml)
Produced from 50+ year-old vines in the former wine estate of the Lords of Ribeaupierre in the Osterberg Grand Cru and the Trottacker lieu-dit in Ribeauville, along with fruit from the Rosacker Grand Cru and the Muhlforst lieu-dit in Hunawihr.
14.08% Alc/Vol; 24.0 g/L RS; 4.7 g/L TA, pH 3.54.
‘Fresh cloves and white pepper. Apple and pear too. Full body, intense fruit with an oily texture yet fresh and vivid. White flowers too. Drink now.’ 95 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, June 2017.
'Bright pale golden yellow. Aromas of mango, grapefruit and sweet spices. Then more tropical fruit and honey in the mouth;; lovely stony freshness provides noteworthy clarity and cut. Much denser and richer than the entry-level Gewurz but also boasts better deliniation thanks to greater acidity. Fantatsic Gewurz in the making. Really a step up in concentration from the Reserve, this reminded me a bit of 1971’s Gewurzes.' 94 points, Ian D’Agata, Vinous Media, August 2016.

2016 Trimbach Pinot Gris Réserve Personnelle - SOLD OUT
All from Grand Cru Osterberg and Grand Cru Kirchberg in Ribeauvillé, marl-limestone and sandstone soil, SE-S exposure. Localities of the Jungholz and the Weinbaum in Ribeauvillé leaning against the sub-Vosges hills, marl-limestone and sandstone soil SE. Old vines of 45 years old. 14.4% Alc/Vol; 12.4 g/L RS; 5.9 g/L TA, pH 3.4.

GRAND CRU

2021 Trimbach Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg
In 2012 Trimbach purchased a 2 ha site in this south facing granite based Grand cru. Their holding is located quite high up on the slope near the castle and benefits from the cool air flowing out of the forest which results in a wine of freshness and great finesse, length and refinement.
Extremely focused with underplayed power and concentration, this Alsace dry riesling masterpiece is still very youthful, but already shows a slew of Amalfi lemon, wild herb and spicy aromas. Extremely focused, sleek palate. Super-long finish with incredible crushed rock intensity. From 1.6 hectares of terraced vines in this famous site with ancient granite soil. From organically grown grapes. Drink from release. 96 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, March 2023.

2020 Trimbach Riesling Grand Cru Brand
Trimbach bought these 2 parcels of 70+ year old vines on granite and mica in 2018. From just 0.85 hectare of vines averaging 65yo in the granite based soils of this south-facing Grand cru located in Turckheim is this very first release in extremely limited quantities.
‘An amazing dry riesling that richly deserves the Grand Cru designation. Wonderful nose of ripe pineapple with smoky and spicy notes. Very powerful, but every bit as elegant. Staggeringly mineral finish that takes your breathe away. So pure! Great aging potential. From over 80-year-old vines. Drink or hold.’ 96 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, June 2022.

2020 Trimbach Riesling Mandelberg Grand Cru
‘Very enticing nose of ripe peaches and fresh almonds with just a hint of melted butter. Impressive concentration and richness, but so straight and dry, this emphasizing the wine's intense mineral side. That, in turn, underlines the emphatic dryness of the very long finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.’ 95 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, July 2022.

2018 Trimbach Riesling Grand Cru Geisberg Vignoble du Couvent de Ribeauvillé - last bottles
Trimbach now farm 3.5 ha of this tiny Grand cru site which rises up steeply above the village of Ribeauville on the northern side of the village. Trimbach established themselves in Ribeauville in the 1890s after moving from Hunawihr which was located off the tourist road and which saw less tourist visitors. Geisberg is the third smallest of the Alsace Grand cru sites and is composed of many terraces over limestone and sandstone subsoil. In 2008 Trimbach were granted the lease of the holding owned by the Convent of Ribeauvillé, on the condition that both the village and the Grand Cru were recognised when selling the wine. The first release of this wine was from the 2009 vintage. Riesling from this well exposed south-facing site produces powerful wines with typically great ageing capacity.
’The 2018 Grand Cru Geisberg Riesling opens with very ripe, if not partly overripe or dried fruit and some lactic notes on the nose that lacked focus and precision. I asked for a second bottle and got one that had been opened two days before. This was pure, fresh and precisely representative of the Geisberg terroir with stony and saline notes. On the palate, this is an opulent, dense and baroque-styled Riesling with power, sweetness (just 3.9 grams per liter) and a firm and concentrated finish. This is another wine that needs some years to relax and breathe. Tasted at the domaine in May 2022.’ 92+ pts, Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate, May 2023.

the following vintages due NEXT YEAR

2019 Trimbach Riesling Grand Cru Geisberg Vignoble du Couvent de Ribeauvillé - due late 2025
’So deep and complex, yet also brimming with herbal and floral aromas. On the full-bodied palate the monumental depth and great minerality are beautifully illuminated by dangerously fresh acidity that makes the wine lift off at the stunning finish. Surely has great long-term aging potential, though totally delicious now.’ 98 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, November 2020.

PRESTIGE AND RARE AND LIMITED WINES

2018 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste Hune - extremely limited
The Clos Sainte Hune is a tiny vineyard of 1.67 ha within the Grand Cru Rosacker. It is situated at the foot of the village of Hunawihr, and is planted with 50-70 year-old vines. What makes this terroir so special? According to Jean Trimbach, it’s all about the soil, ‘The terroir is on a rather unique soil of limestone and marl, a rare formation for Alsace.’
’The 2018 Riesling Clos Ste Hune is deep and intense on the very generous yet refined and elegant, rich and lemon-scented nose that indicates enormous richness. It's very harmonious. Full-bodied, very intense and concentrated yet also vital and full of tension, this is a very rich and powerful yet elegant und utterly mineral CSH that combines great finesse and salinity with power and substance. This is a giant. 14.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in April 2024.’ 99+ points, Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate, April 2024.

2019 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste Hune - due April 2025
The greatest Clos Ste. Hune ever? The beauty and elegance of this very youthful Alsace dry riesling masterpiece are literally breathtaking. Very subtle white-peach character, great concentration and such finesse at the extremely long, precise finish. However, you’ll need to be patient, because this is so tightly wound it will need many years to reach its ravishing peak. Made from organically grown grapes. Better after 2024. 100 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling, November 2020.

The 2019 Riesling Clos Ste Hune 100e Anniversaire is very clear, fresh and coolish on the precise and refined, very detailed nose that is a clear reflection of the terroir expressed with saline lemon aromas. Generous yet refined on the palate, this is a more classical Riesling compared to 2018, so it's a bit more austere, less textured but more precise and incredibly saline. The tannins are still biting a bit but already playing with the saline acidity, and I assure you that this is a great and balanced classical Riesling that will make its way over the years. Personally, I adore this style (or vintage) since it shows the finesse and purity of the clos rather than its power and richness at this stage. Keep it for at least 10 or, if you can, 20 years. Tasted at the domaine in April 2024 and again on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Clos Ste Hune at the beginning of November, with the same result.
98+ points, Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate, April 2024.

Late Harvest Wines

2018 Trimbach Gewürztraminer Vendanges Tardives 375 ml
From our 40+ year old vines from the hills of our village Ribeauvillé, exact location called Trottacker vineyard, and from Hunawihr hills, exact location called Muehlforst vineyard. The soils are composed of marl and limestone. Our plots are facing South and South-East. 13.55 % Alc/Vol; 64.4 g/l RS; 3.82 pH; 4.9 g/l TA.
2017 review (2018 not yet reviewed) ‘Luminous yellow-gold. Enticing, showy aromas of peach nectar, honey, crystallized pineapple and sweet spices; spicy botrytis notes (nail polish, ginger) emerge with aeration. Silky-sweet and dense, offering ripe apricot, soft citrus and honey flavors nicely lifted by ripe acidity and complicated by a repeating spicy nuance. Finishes long and suave. This is a selection of grapes from the same sites as the Cuvée des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre. Mostly made by passerillage (air-dried grapes) in 2017, but there was also a small presence of noble rot that is especially obvious on the nose (the hint of nail polish and exotic fruit notes). This will go on sale by 2020 (as no 2016 VT was made, Trimbach will release this wine a little sooner than usual). Drink 2020-2032.’ 94 points, Ian D’Agata, Vinous, January 2019.

2008 Trimbach Gewürztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles Hors Choix - last bottles
13.0 % Alc/Vol; 114 g/l RS; 6.5 g/l TA.
’The intensely golden-yellow 2008 Gewurztraminer Sélection de Grains Nobles 'Hors Choix' opens with a fascinatingly pure, fresh, precise and concentrated, exotic and elegant nose. It has perfectly ripe peach, buttercup, ginger and lime-zest flavors intermixed with spicy and peppery aromas. Full-bodied, round and highly delicate on the palate, this is a concentrated, firmly structured, fresh and complex sweet wine with fine tannins and a long, fresh and mineral finish. The 2008 'Hors Choix' was bottled with 13% alcohol and is a great, tension-filled and spicy gastronomic sweet wine with terrific grip and stimulating freshness. The 2008 drinks nicely today, but can be aged for decades.’ 97 pts, Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate, July 2017.

2007 Trimbach Gewürztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles Hors Choix - last bottles
14.0 % Alc/Vol; 124 g/l RS; 5.2 g/l TA.
‘The 2007 Gewurztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles Hors Choix represents a cuvee designation that the Trimbachs also utilized in 1989 and 2000 for wine of near Esszencia-like richness. Essence of rose petal along with mirabelle preserves, mint candy, and brown spices on the nose are joined on a thickly-rich palate by honey, chocolate, and white raisin. Yet for all of its richness and gaudy, candied set of flavors, this preserves a juicy sense of leavening and refreshment in a finish of extraordinary persistence, its sweetness not in the least cloying. This should be a 50 year wine.’ 96 points, David Schildknecht, RobertParker.com, April 2010.